Toronto FC's impressive off-season continued on Monday as the club announced the acquisition of Argentine forward Pablo Vitti on loan from Independiente of Argentina after spending time on loan with FC Chernomorets Odessa of the Ukrainian First Division.
Vitti, 23, first made an impression on Toronto FC fans last year when he scored a goal for Argentine club Independiente in a 1-0 exhibition win against TFC. A member of the Argentine Under-20 national team that won the 2005 Under-20 World Cup, Vitti (pictured above doing battle with Maurice Edu) is expected to step in and challenge for a starting role in a stable of forwards that includes Danny Dichio, Chad Barrett and Abdus Ibrahim.
What do you think of the acquisition? Like the idea of Toronto landing a player like this on a loan? Think this is the last of Mo Johnston's off-season deals? Are you starting to consider Toronto FC a playoff lock?
Share your thoughts below.
To the person who asked about the stadium getting real turf. The owners of MLS (MLSE) received funds from the Federal Government to build the stadium as a National Soccer Stadium but one of the guidelines is that it had to be useable year round. Natural turf probably would be too pricey to maintain through the winter months.
You’re so very right Terry, MLS would be so much stronger if TFC got relegated. Who needs revenue anyway?
You can’t have a relegation system and a salary cap system at the same time. It doesn’t work. All you’ll accomplish is the possible relegation of the teams that make the most money for the league (TFC and LAG were both in the bottom three last year).
Terry! great to hear from you!! Long time fan…are you and Patti and, what was your other sisters name again?, going to tour this summer? Do you still look good in those six inch heels?
Terry, unless your argentinian friend is a psychic or a soccer scout im not really going to get too wiled up about his opinion on a player that hasnt played yet in a league thats reknowned for slack defense. Im looking forward to a good season for TFC this year
Terry Labelle – We will see what transpires this year. A lot of supporters have given the Teams front office marching orders based on the teams performance this year. Basically everyone in Toronto is making a strong push for the playoffs. If they don’t make it their will be a lot of people that will NOT renew their seasons tickets….
Good to hear he can score in friendlies…that’s important.
I asked an Argentine friend and he laughed and said not to get too excited, he’ll fit in perfectly with the other mediocrity.
Toronto will be as bad as they have ever been and remind us once again that closed 1st divisions allows for this kind of crap to go on.
Isnt it time for a real 1st and 2nd division or would that take money from the fees the MSL can make?
If you were bad two years ago, and you were bad last year, you SHOULD go down because youre obviously going to be bad again.
Toronto is still the 3rd best pro team in their country. So that’s a plus.
Interesting, thanks J-KUL
Of those six ukraine appearances, five were off the bench, so that doesn’t say much. Ditto with his time at independiente, where he hasn’t had much starting time at all. I’d suggest that after Banfield made him their number 10 because of one eight-goal season, it may have gone to his head a little.
Perhaps a dose of MLS level humility will change that. Certainly, as someone here noted, his tearing it up over the last few weeks for Indp. could be a good sign (he had two goals in a friendly last week.)
Actually, he returned last November at the Ukraine winter break…they didn’t want him back…6 apps, 1 goal…But he was tearing it up in Indep friendlies last couple of weeks…
this guy is not talented. he didnt score at all for the ukranian team he played for,when he played for indpendiente he never scored and thus eventually couldnt make the bench and was loaned out to other argentine teams where he never socred. talented when he was a u20 but now not effective.he could be succesfful in mls because mls is not caliber of those leagues though. well see how he does but if escalada signs for RSL he will be a muich better player.
To Scott A, lots of talk up here to expand and get rid of the turf. Nobody likes it but the deal with the city adds some complications that need to be sorted before we will see grass but are told by TFC it is coming but definitely not this season. The mayor here is a fan and wants it to work with city too. Lots of talk about expansion but nothing concrete. Grass will come first.
As far as Vitti goes, everyone is pumped about the deal. Hoping he gels with rest of team. Hope some of trial guys work out too. Can’t wait for home opener to do some chanting and cheering.
Yeh, you’re probably right in there…
He’s on loan from Indipendiente; he was previously on loan at FC Chernomorets Odessa in the Ukraine.
Wish RSL had got him.
TFC isnt dont..they still have allocation money and a DP to burn
he’s not a DP.
Vitti was a starter on the Argentine World Youth championship team that had some great talents including Zabaletta, Aguero, and Messi. Most of the players on that team have gone on to be starters elsewhere, including some top leagues. This guy just seems to not have had the chance to getting starting minutes at Independiente.. he destroyed TFC in that friendly last year, which caused Mo Johnston to take notice. Since TFC’s #1 prob last year was scoring, this helps greatly. Next up is to improve the defence, which was TFC’s #2 prob last year.
Posted by: hendrix | February 09, 2009 at 04:58 PM
Saying that he destroyed TFC in a match puts him the same line as a number of others. Hell, I think I might be in the killed TFC line from last season. Just hope he doesn’t prove to be another “Mo” special.
I am not going to get too excited about this guy just yet, but with the exception of a cb upgrade, the pieces all seem to be there. If the Reds don’t make the playoffs, it won’t be Mo’s fault.
Toronto must have some high scoring games this year with a formidable attack yet shaky defense. But great to see talented young south americans like Vitti come to MLS.
I will be interested to see if he can get significant minutes in what I think is a pretty good forward line… Dichio is a solid, experienced player… Personally (I know a lot of fire fans would disagree), I think Chad Barret is a very good player, although he was gone through some real tough (borderline embarrassing) dry spells in the past… And Abdus Ibrahim is very young, but showed real nice ability when he got the chance last year… I know nothing about O’Brien White… How do the Toronto Fans here feel?
Sounds like another young argentine whose going to be a bust. Franco Carracio anyone?
he’s not a DP.
Vitti was a starter on the Argentine World Youth championship team that had some great talents including Zabaletta, Aguero, and Messi. Most of the players on that team have gone on to be starters elsewhere, including some top leagues. This guy just seems to not have had the chance to getting starting minutes at Independiente.. he destroyed TFC in that friendly last year, which caused Mo Johnston to take notice.
Since TFC’s #1 prob last year was scoring, this helps greatly. Next up is to improve the defence, which was TFC’s #2 prob last year.
Thanks – Will I don’t think I ever saw him play but i’m familar with him from Championship Manager 🙂
I like the Vitti signing even though I’m a Red Bull fan. It’s good for the league overall
No idea how they’ll all work together, but on paper, this TFC team is very impressive…I’m looking forward to watching them. Any Toronto fans heard chatter about if concrete plans to expand BMO are in the works, and later on, any talk of getting rid of turf? Just curious
Good for the Toronto fans. Looks like you’re making a lot of moves.
TO be perfectly frank….I’ve never heard of this guy. I also don’t know any players in the Ukrane first division so I have no idea if he’s Juan Pablo Angel or Peter Canero.
this isnt a DP right?
Yes Gerald, it is Darren Keaton.
http://web.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20090209&content_id=216484&vkey=news_t280&fext=.jsp&team=t280
Wow, can’t say I know anything about the guy but whenever MLS is bringing in young, talented players with a history of success at varying levels we should all be happy as fans. Whether he flames out or whatever doesn’t matter, it’s the fact that MLS is becoming a destination for those not taking pensions thats important. Good luck to him.
Hey Ives,
its Fuad Ibrahim now 😉
A Centre back please. Get rid of Marshall and we are just about ready for the season.
Vitti!!! I like that name…I hope he’s good…sounds like it…these are the kind of players MLS needs to continue to sign
Hey Will, is that Darren Kenton
Seems like a good option.
Darren Kenton formerly of Southhampton is in camp on trial, as is Gregory Richardson (the guy from Joe Public who burned New England three times) and Celtic youth player Michael McGlinchey. Bolivian forward Pablo Salinas Manacho is in camp as well.
watch out for TFC in 09. They going to be dangeroussss.
again, shouldn’t they be expanding bmo right about now?
Does this count as a DP if it’s only a loan?
yes nice, however what bout richardson, he is impressive. i also like osei telesford, and two more quality cb’s.
Vitti–Dichio (Barrett, Ibrahim, White)
DeRo-Robsinon-Guevara-Ricketts (Cronin, Smith)
Brennan-???-???-Wynne (Velez, Marshall, Harmse)
Sutton (Edwards, Frei)
Looks decent. Will look better with some CBs.
They still need a center back, but its better than signing some over-the-hill player.
Word of mouf today is Tyrone Marshall to Seattle for Khano Smith. Decent pickup for TFC
Anyone know if they have actually signed Kenton as a CB, or is he just on trial? Should be an improvement up front anyways.
It’s awesome to finally see MLS get young, up-and-coming talent like Freddy Montero and now Vitti.
I’m just sick of DC United instead opting for old South American defenders. But hey, now I guess we fit into the landscape of Washington, DC area pro sports teams.
Toronto’s offseason is very impressive. If these players live up to their reputations, Toronto might have a very succesful year.
Like our chances, Mo still needs to get us a quality center back. Only time will tell